Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6 Point Pedro Lighthouse D1
7 Ponnalai Vishnu Kovil B1
8 Selvachannithy Murugan Kovil C1
9 Thurkkai Amman Kovil B1
10 Valipura Kovil D1
Sleeping
11 Sabins Blue Ocean Resort B2
Eating
12 Fort Hammenhiel Resort A2
13 Sri Murugan Café C1
To the North Coast & Keerimalai Spring
Though a lot of the surrounding area is a military zone and off limits, the road to Keerim-
alai spring is open. Kankesanturai (KKS), its endpoint, however, is still restricted. For bus
details see Click here .
From Jaffna, it's a straight road north to the small town of Chunnakam, from where
there's a 3km squiggle of lanes leading west to the beautiful and mysterious Kantarodai
Ruins ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 8.30am-5pm) - two dozen or so dagobas, 1m to 2m in
height, in a palm-fringed field. Their origins are the subject of fierce controversy - part of
the raging 'who was here first?' historical debate. Originally flat-topped and low to the
ground, the stone structures were built upon by Sri Lanka's Department of Archaeology in
1978 - some say to restore the original dagoba shape that the ancient Buddhist community
here had created; others say to impose a Buddhist history on an ancient culture that had its
own set of traditions (maybe for burials). It's hardly a mind-blowing vista, especially as
it's all behind a wire fence, but the structures are quite otherworldly-looking.
Beside the KKS road at the 13km marker, close to the 'new' village of Tellippalai , the
vast Thurkkai Amman Kovil ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 5.30am-7pm, closed 1-3pm some days)
is set behind a fairly deep, stepped pool. The temple celebrates the goddess Durga and
 
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